This text investigates the physiological mechanisms that allow crustacea to adapt to diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments. A. P. M. Lockwood, a specialist in marine biology, synthesizes experimental data and comparative studies to explain how these organisms manage osmotic regulation, respiration, and metabolic processes. The work provides a structured framework for understanding the functional biology of the subphylum Crustacea within the context of their evolutionary history.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational academic text for students and researchers in invertebrate physiology. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which assumes a solid background in biological sciences.